Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

My letter to you this year is not about what I want for Christmas day.

I want to thank you for what turned out to be a quite successful 2012. If you could kindly give my fans, followers and readers something they want from their Christmas lists that will make me very happy. I have increased my sales base, worked out my plan and am starting to get my blog back on track. For this I am grateful.

I've been so good Santa that I've already drafted 5 posts ready to go for the New Year. I have no excuses now!

If you could make 2013 just as or more successful than this year I will be forever in you debt.

Love always,

Kat

P.S. Thank you one and all for your continued support. This is not my last post of the year but it seemed like the right time to share my thanks. In case you aren't around for Christmas day - MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours. May you all be blessed with good health and better fortune ;)

The madness settles - time for networking.

I woke up this morning feeling a little under the weather and then realised it is more than likely because I haven't stopped for weeks on end. My day job has required my full attention when there thanks to one of our staff leaving. I hate doing interviews at the best of times however at this time of year I hate it even more. Though I had my last fair the other week I have still been churning out orders. Which is great in all honesty.

However at the end of it I have had very little me time. So I promised myself a lie which I have had! The past few weeks have seen me falling asleep over my work. Something like this but not so cute.

I don't know about any of you but I have now started to look to the New Year. What I want to achieve and why I want to be there.

I have been trying to get my likes counter up to 1000 for a while now (on Facebook that is). I know it's fickle, but for some reason I will feel like 'Yay, may not mean a straight sale but it does mean my name is out there'. There has been such a lot of talk recently on whether likes mean anything on your Facebook page. The way I look at it, for every one like you may get maybe, just maybe, a sale may come from an unexpected corner. And if not, it's been fun getting there. In my travels across the Facebook networking sites I have come across the good the bad and the down right ugly. However, by a twist of fate I met up with a page who have since taken me on as part of their Admin team. A little touch and go for a while as the page and the admins tried to work out how best to proceed - however I now work next to 5 very lovely ladies helping to promote the works of others (which I really enjoy) and I have also made some amazing friendships. If you are new to networking, or are an old hat looking for a lovely environment I point you over to The Crafters Society and Directory. Such a great group and no one goes ignored. Every post is answered one way or another. 

It has made me realise that this year has been a hard one, but hopefully, over the months to come I will get to see the blossoming of my own handy work as well as that of others deserving of praise. I will continue to network and see where it takes me. After all I have had some sales this year from the most unexpected of places. As the madness settles and we have time to look back I hope you all remember the good with the bad. I think this year has been hard on us all - thanks economy, we owe you one (not). I have high hope for next year, so join me in a little pre-christmas networking and lets see if we can't rock the joint next year. 

Another period of absence

I apologise for not being around much. It's all been in the spirit of Christmas however!

This year has seen With U in Mind take off with regards to the seasonal orders. So much so that I haven't had time to do anything other than make make make. Not that I am complaining. I couldn't be happier in all fairness.

I had my last fair of the year this last weekend and it wasn't the best which was a bit of a blow out, but never to give up I have plans for next year to hit larger scale markets and fairs to see if we can't get up yet another milestone.

The past few weeks have made me realise a few things however. Firstly - unless asked, or unless the flight of fancy takes me I won't be doing much in the way of Jewellery any more. It sells ok, but I just can't bare to see the stands of hand crafted markets saturated with the stuff (no offence to any of my readers who are themselves jewellery makers). My talent is middle of the road and I just can't compete. However my home decor stuff nearly sold out and all my 'novelty' items are pretty much gone too! So, as of the New Year - bye bye jewellery, hello my lovely sewing machine/fimo/alternative crafts.

If any of you are interested I have a 'Sale' album up on my Facebook. Pop by and have a mooch.

I've been working on a whole range of designs based around retro gaming. I started this at the back end of last year and never did anything with it, however with my move away from beads and wire I thought it was about time to resurrect the ideas.

These will be developed into clothing iron on patches, phone and kindle cases, console cases and a number of other things.

I also want to look at doing so large project bags but we will see...